I was interested and so was looking into the origins of protein study and where it began.
I found out (apparently) that for quite a while it wasn't researched as the other two macronutrients were during the 70s, but by the 80s and 90s a lot of new developments started taking place.
The idea that protein was important for muscle gain had been known to bodybuilders before this boom in research came about in the mid 80s from what I read, so I was wondering when and how it happened that we came to realise protein was significantly important for muscle growth in the scientific world?

Ummm... Anabolic steroids were synthesized in the 30s, on the notion that they could increase protein within cells. Of course, the aim of this was to increase it within muscle cells to counteract wasting disease etc.

That protein is the building block of muscles has been known for ages. As for having a 'notion' that meat etc was important for growing big and strong, this would have been empirically observed and acknowledged even in ancient times. Just not with any complex research to understand how or why

Ummm... Anabolic steroids were synthesized in the 30s, on the notion that they could increase protein within cells. Of course, the aim of this was to increase it within muscle cells to counteract wasting disease etc.

That protein is the building block of muscles has been known for ages. As for having a 'notion' that meat etc was important for growing big and strong, this would have been empirically observed and acknowledged even in ancient times. Just not with any complex research to understand how or why